Grandma
Polly Paré was your quintessential loving granny who spoiled the heck out her
grandchildren every chance she got. I remember playing hookie from elementary
school many times, just so I could walk down the street to her house for an
orange float and cookies.
When Grandpa
Polly passed away on a cold December evening back in 2009, it hit our family
hard.
Though struggling
through our own feelings of loss, everyone’s hearts ached most for my dad.
Grandma was his last surviving parent, as Grandpa Leo had passed a few years
earlier.
My dad is a
tough character, so he didn’t talk about it much, but one day while driving
home from town, he said something that really stuck with me.
The exact
wording may be a little off, but it went something like this…
“You live
your life and do things in a way you hope makes your parents proud. When your
mom and dad are gone, it’s more about making your children proud.”
Though we
may not always follow their wishes or advice, most of us value our parents’
opinion. I make a point of calling my folks to share good news and often
consult them when making big life decisions.
The oldest
of three siblings, I like to think I’ve given my parents good reason to be
proud – or at least not ashamed – but there’s no doubt that my greatest
contribution has been my children.
My kids
light up at the very sound of their grandparents’ voice – and vice versa.
Watching the boys wrestle with Grandpa or make cookies with Grandma fills me
with a strange sense of accomplishment beyond anything I’ve ever known. It’s
almost surreal to see them together and try to imagine what life must have been
like for my parents when my brother, sister and I were still just toddlers
running around in diapers and colouring on walls.
When my wife
and I were still new to parenting, we used to fret over the way both our
parents spoiled the kids when we all get together. Now, we pretty much sit back
and let them play by their grandparents’ rules for a few days and ‘adjust the
attitudes’ when we get back home.
Now that the
kids are getting a little older, we’re starting to take advantage of my folks as
babysitters when Amanda and I decide we need a break. I love my boy dearly, but
I long for that day when we can dump them on their grandparents and jump on a
plane to somewhere warm and boozy for a week or two.
I have
nothing but fond memories of my time with both pairs of grandparents. They
played a big part in shaping the person I am today and I’ll treasure those
memories as long as I live.
Life is
precious and I’m still learning just how fast time flies when you have a family
of your own, which is why I intend to give my parents plenty of opportunity to
spoil and love and heck out of my kids.
Leo is a former Advocate editor. Contact him by email at newsdeadline@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LeoPare
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